Signal lantern



May 26, 1925. I 1,539,105

- J. A. AMOS SIGNAL LANTERN Filed March 17, 1924 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented 'May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES TPATENST OFFICE.

JOHN A. AMOS, or s'r: Louis, MISSOURI, AssIenoa T0 OLIVI'ER ELECTRIC Ann MANU- raoruame COMPANY, or set. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION or MISSOURI.

SIGNAL LANTERN.

Application filed March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. Amos, a

citizen of the United States of America,

residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States of America, have invented a certain new and useful Signal Lantern, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an electric lantern, particularly intended for use by train men for signalling, which hasthe novel and advantageous characteristics hereinafter set forth. 1

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevational view; Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the switch mechanism and certain associated parts.

The lantern comprises a casing 1, preferably in the form of'a casting and provided with spaced integral feet 2, the ends of these feet being joined by the ring 3 integral therewith.

.which supports the battery 5. An annular disk of copper or. other suitable conductive material 6 is attachedto the u perface of this disk by means of ears g extending through the disk 4; andtbent over into engagement with the under surface thereof. A central contacting'member 8 is also located on the upjpersurface of the disk. within the conducting ring .6 and is electrically connected to the switch blade 9 by means of the screw 10, which forms the pivot for.

said blade. The disk 4 also carries lamp sockets 11, and the conducting ring 6 is provided with depressed portions as shown, which are adaptedto beengaged by the centralterminal of an electric lamp bulb 12 when the same-is screwed into the socket. The positive and negative terminals of the battery 5 are in the form of resilient strips 13 and 14, which are held in contact with In a suitable recess inthe casing wall as shown is located a (118k the plates 6 and 8. In view of the central location of the'terminal 14 and the. annular shape of the contact plate 6, no attention to position of the battery terminals is required in placing the batteryin the casing, since proper contacts will be made in any position.

The lantern is provided witha pivoted handle 15, which is'frictionallyheld at any adjusted angle to the lantern casing by' means of the fibre washers 27. The pivoted cover 16 of the casing is dome-shapedand is held closed by the spring latch 26. On the under surface of the cover is carried spring member 17 which bears upon the top of the battery and holds it against motion relativeto the casing, and alsb constitutes means for holding the battery terminals in electrical contact with the contact members referred to when the lantern is swung to a position members 20 are preferably provided with depressions 21 into which a struck-up portion of the switch blade enters in making contact, and serve to hold the switch lever in the circuit closed positions.

As a further means for holding the lever in on positions depressions 22 are made in the under surface of the insulating plate 4, which are engaged by the struck-up portion of the forward end of the lever 'in the on positions of the switch. While a single lamp is sufficient for signalling purposes, the provision of two lamps and arrangement of contacts so that moving the switch blade in either direction from its ofi position will close a lamp circuit, has the advantages that the operator need give no attention to which direction he pushes the switch arm, and that if one lamp" filament should burn out while the lantern was being used in the giving of a particular signal, moving of the swltch arm in the opposite direction will light the other filament and the signal can be immediately repeated. This latter is a particularly important feature with respect to safety and convenience as will be readily understood.

The switch mechanism and lamp sockets are covered by the housing 23, which housing, together with the disk 4, are held in position by screws 24 entering the casing. This housing 23 also carries guard-Wires 25, which protect the lamp bulbs from break age when the lantern is set down on a surtance may not be obstructed during any sigthe ground or station platform.

nalling motions of the lantern, Since the lantern has a skeleton base it has the advan tage that the light can be seen by the engineer even when the lantern is put down on Having fully described my invention.

what I'claim as new and desire to Secure by Letters Patent of the United States'is:

In an electric signalling device, the combination of a casing having a bottom closure of insulating material, two lamp sockets mounted on said-closure and opening downward, an annular contact plate mounted on so located with respect to the sockets that a terminal of a lamp inserted in either of said sockets will engage with said contact plate.

In testimony whereof, have hereunto set my hand this the 14th day of March, 1924.

JOHN LAMo's. 1,. 5.

30 the upper side of said closure, a battery in 

